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Cherie Calbom explains why what’s hiding in processed foods could be affecting your bones.
When women join my programs, one of the first questions they ask is: “What’s wrong with seed oils?”
It’s a great question, because for years we were told many of these oils were healthy. Today, we’re learning much more about how heavily processed oils may contribute to chronic inflammation—and inflammation is one of the biggest obstacles to healthy bones.
In this episode of Stronger Bones Lifestyle, I sat down with nutrition expert and bestselling author Cherie Calbom, also known as the Juice Lady®, to discuss why reducing inflammation is an important part of building fracture-resistant bones.
Why Inflammation Matters
Your bones are living tissue. Every day they’re constantly remodeling—building new bone while breaking down old bone. When inflammation becomes chronic, it can shift that balance in the wrong direction.
That’s why bone health isn’t just about calcium or vitamin D. It’s also about creating an internal environment that supports healthy bone remodeling.
What Are Seed Oils?
Cherie explains that common seed oils include:
- Canola (rapeseed)
- Soybean
- Corn
- Cottonseed
- Grapeseed
- Safflower
- Sunflower
- Rice bran
- Peanut oil
Many of these oils are commonly found in packaged foods, restaurant meals, snack foods, baked goods, and fried foods. One of the easiest ways to become a more informed consumer is to simply start reading ingredient labels.
Focus on Whole Foods
Rather than obsessing over every ingredient, I encourage women to focus on what they can add. More vegetables. More colorful produce. More whole foods. More anti-inflammatory meals.
Cherie shared how embracing a whole-food lifestyle transformed her own health after struggling with chronic illness, and it’s a powerful reminder that lasting health is built through consistent daily choices—not quick fixes.
Small Changes Add Up
You don’t have to change everything overnight. Start by replacing heavily processed cooking oils with options like:
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Avocado oil
- Coconut oil (for appropriate cooking uses)
Then gradually reduce packaged foods and choose more meals made from whole ingredients. Every small improvement reduces the inflammatory burden on your body.
My Takeaway
Bone health isn’t built by avoiding one ingredient. It’s built by consistently choosing foods that nourish your body instead of inflaming it.
When we reduce inflammation, support our gut, nourish our cells, and strengthen our bodies through movement, we create the conditions for healthier bones. It isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress—one meal, one choice, and one day at a time.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Oxalates, also known as oxalic acid, are naturally occurring compounds found in many plants, vegetables, and fruits. They are part of a plant’s defense mechanism against predators and can be found in high concentrations in foods like spinach, rhubarb, beets, nuts, chocolate, tea, and certain beans.
Regarding bone health, oxalates can bind to minerals such as calcium in the gut, forming calcium oxalate. This compound is not easily absorbed by the body, meaning the calcium that could have been utilized for bone strengthening is instead excreted. This process can potentially lead to lower calcium availability for bone health, which can be particularly concerning for individuals at risk of osteoporosis or other bone-related issues.
However, for most women, dietary oxalates do not pose a significant threat to bone health, especially if their diet is balanced with enough calcium and they do not have a history of kidney stones.
Your gut is crucial for stronger bones for several reasons:
- Nutrient Absorption: The gut is where most nutrient absorption occurs. For bones to be healthy and strong, they need a variety of nutrients, particularly calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and vitamin D. A healthy gut efficiently absorbs these essential nutrients from your diet and facilitates their transportation to the bones.
- Gut Microbiome and Bone Health: Research has shown that the gut microbiome (the community of bacteria living in your intestines) can influence bone density. Certain gut bacteria help in producing short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, which have been shown to promote bone health. SCFAs can enhance the absorption of minerals necessary for bone strength and play a role in reducing inflammation, which can negatively affect bone health.
- Hormone Regulation: The gut helps regulate hormones that are involved in bone metabolism, including insulin, thyroid hormones, and sex hormones like estrogen. For example, estrogen is vital for bone density, and gut health can influence estrogen levels through the enterohepatic circulation, where estrogens are processed in the liver and intestines.
- Reducing Inflammation: Chronic inflammation, which can stem from poor gut health, is linked to many conditions that compromise bone strength, such as osteoporosis. A healthy gut helps to reduce systemic inflammation, protecting bones from inflammatory damage.
- Immune System Modulation: The majority of the immune system is located in the gut. An imbalance in the immune system can lead to autoimmune conditions, some of which affect the bones. Maintaining gut health helps to ensure the immune system works correctly, protecting against autoimmune reactions that could impact bone health.
In essence, maintaining a healthy gut contributes significantly to stronger bones by ensuring the effective absorption of vital nutrients, regulating hormones, reducing inflammation, and supporting a healthy immune system. Therefore, a diet rich in bone-healthy nutrients, prebiotics, and probiotics, along with lifestyle factors that promote gut health, is key to maintaining strong bones.